PIERRE, S.D. - Attorney General Marty Jackley and United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced today that the Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Spearfish Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations have arrested Nicholaus Tripp, 28, Spearfish, South Dakota, on one count of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet (18 USC 2422(b).Tripp was arrested on a criminal complaint on December 23, 2016, and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on December 27, 2016. He pled not guilty to the charge. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years’ mandatory minimum imprisonment up to life.

The charge relates to Tripp utilizing the internet to attempt to engage in unlawful sexual acts with a minor.

The investigation is being conducted by the Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, Spearfish Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins is prosecuting the case.

Tripp has been detained pending trial. A trial date has been set for February 28, 2017. The charge is merely an accusation and Tripp is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.